[18] Nonetheless, the Marines had been eagerly waiting for the new .45s, and they were going directly into operational use, so there was little patience for a learning curve, and many of the Marines demanded a change. Over the years Ive built quite a few custom rifles on Remington 700 actions. The triggers were uniformly pretty good. It is a Fletch High Rise OWB Holster. The only factory parts Ill typically use are the receiver and bolt assembly, everything else is upgraded. The Colt M45A1 is just as reliable as a perfectly tuned competition-grade custom 1911, except this comes with that level of reliability right out of the factory and rightfully so. I was at my local gun shop when a Marine was picking up two that he had won. The Colt M45A1 CQBP pistol is based on the tried and true Series 80 platform: it comes with a single-action trigger, a skeletonized enhanced hammer, an automatic firing pin safety, an ambidextrous frame-mounted manual safety, and an improved and crisp trigger pull about two kilos or just under 6 lbs. I've picked up used cerakote M45A1 rollmark guns for $1200. That cartridge didnt cycle my gun either. This one likely sat in the armory or in a warehouse waiting its turn in the arena. Get your piece of American history before is gone. All three versions have serial numbers ending in the EGA serial suffix (for the Corps iconic eagle, globe and anchor insignia), the U.S. markings, and the small set of numbers and CQBP denoting the official description of Close Quarters Battle Pistol.. In the mid 1990s he was the go-to 1911 gunsmith and made the best combat style sights around. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. The .45s had a number of features that jumped right out: the light rails, the aggressively checkered G10 stockswhich replaced the Pachmayrs we had used for so longtritium vials in the Novak sights, and unique markings on the frames and slides. While Maj. Butler might be taken aback by the tritium capsules in the M45A1s sights or perhaps a mounted SureFire light, it is likely that he could operate and fieldstrip the new USMC Colt with no difficulty. Does anyone know? The pistol is, IN 92% ORIGINAL CONDITON WHICH IS ALMOST UNHEARD OF IN A RUSSIAN WW2 TOKAREV, WE HAVE A 1942 PRODUCTION TOKAREV, IN 98% ORIGINAL CONDITION, WE HAVE A VERY CRISP EXAMPLE OF A RJ MARKED WALTHER PP. Sold WALTHER PP REICHS JUSTICE MARKED VERY CRISP! The Colt M45A1 CQBP comes with a cold-hammer forged, polished stainless steel 5" National Match barrel and a NM bushing. In recent months, the auction houses have listed a few with the prices for the pristine unissued handguns estimated around $7,000. Manufacturer: Colt Model: M45A1 Marine Government Width: 1.25" Height: 5.5" Accessories: Manual, Lock Action: Single Barrel Finish: Polished Barrel Length: 5" Barrel Twist: 1:16 Barrel Type: Match Caliber: 45 ACP Capacity: 7 # of Magazines: 1 Frame Color: FDE Frame Finish: Decobond Frame Material: Steel Front Sight: Novak Night Sight [16] The Colt design is considered an upgrade of the previous pistol, not an entirely new design. [17], The original pistols were hand-selected standard government issued Colt M1911A1s that were gutted, deburred, and prepared for additional use by the USMC Precision Weapon Section (PWS) in Quantico, Virginia. As much as its dress may change, this is still John Moses Browning's old reliable battlehorse. More importantly, this feature was intended to decrease the battering the pistol takes on recoil. Many small parts, including the hammer and trigger, are manufactured out of aluminum, but both the slide and frame are machined in solid stainless steel and Decobond-finished in desert tan color. of weight, with a very short 0.1"/2mm reset. They feature Novak three-dot night sights, M1913-spec Picatinny rail and Decabond brown coating with nicely matching Desert Tan G10 grips. The gun ran like a top. The first contract, as published on July 20, 2012, bound Colt to deliver 4,000 samples initially, and up to 12,000 samples in the following years; the contract was said to be worth $22.5 million to Colt. Never miss a post! This year, H&R announced an expansion of its AR-15 lineup, bringing additional "retro" models to the market, including a 9 mm Luger-chambered Colt SMG clone, an M16A2-styled rifle and the carbine-size 723. A round indexed in the chambering position on feeding ramp of the M45A1, The M45A1 skips the mainstream Cerakote finish for a more resistant IonBond Decobond coating. The silence was deafening, though, when they became available and Colt continued to produce a civilian variant. The only other USMC-marked pistols on the market are the real ones that had been returned to Colt and then re-sold to the civilian market. The low number of malfunctions also proves the reliability of a handgun system that was built to save lives. JHP handload 1.20" Wilson Combat 200-gr. A slight bevel at the magazine well enhances reload speed and the thumb safety is ambidextrous. Smith & Wessons Americas Guardians Program. was not the question, rather, it was how tightly I could group the splatter marks. The Colt M45A1 is the new USMC service pistol. It . Fit and finish were OK, but the Marines use it, so that is worth the premium. Before word could even circulate in casual conversation, the pistols were snapped up at prices that were lower than comparable commercial Colts. Colt offered a modified version of their O1980RG (Rail Gun) pistol, which is derived from their existing XSE line of 1911-style pistols with a desert sand-colored surface treatment and Novak night sights. They were certainly the genuine article, with the exception that Colt had marked through the large USMC on the slide with a laser-etched X to signify the decommissioning. The used Glock 19 I bought in 1994, still shoots well. Fast forward twenty years and Im at the same dealer, picking up some transfers and he shows me a Colt M45A1. Here are the features to watch out for. I went through the boxes with the armorers, examining a few random Colts to get a sense of the pistols. Under this point of view, the Colt M45A1 CQBP is definitely the 1911 of the 21st Century. MSRP comes in at $1,699. Remember me, IN 95% ORIGNAL CONDITION, ALL MATCHING WITH AN EXCELLENT BORE, WE HAVE A NICE SOLID MAUSER C96 BROOMHANDLE IN 9MM, IN 97% VERY CRISP ORIGINAL CONDITION, WE HAVE A VERY RARE AND SIGNIFICANT LUGER. COLT MFG CO INC Marine M45-A1 Colt CCS O1070M45 M45-A1 SA 45ACP 5" 7+1 HAS USMC ROLLMARK on slide PRODUCT INFORMATION Slide Material: Stainless Steel Frame Material: Stainless Steel Slide Finish: Cerakote Brown Coating Frame Finish: Cerakote Brown Coating Model Name: GOVERNMENT Left Slide Mark: COLT*** USMC Right Slide Mark: Colt Government Model Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. Which do you guys would think would be more desirable down the line.. [2] The last four digits of the weapon's serial number are stamped on the top of the barrel, on the right-side of slide assembly, inside of the beavertail grip safety, on each side of the ambidextrous thumb safety, and on the inside face of the mainspring housing group. The M45A1 CQBP could very well be the 1911 for the 21st Century battles, but deep at heart it's still the same gun engineered by John Moses Browning over one century ago. Im thinking having that done would make my pistol less valuable as a collector item, plus its not a gun Ill shoot very often so my front strap will remain smooth. By clicking the "OK" button, you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. Is it just a collector mentality To have the USMC? The "U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, Model of 1903," better-known as the M1903 Springfield, has become one of the most popular U.S. military small arms to collect. I overlooked that fact that whoever coated it, missed some spots. There is the EGA serial suffix (for the Corps iconic eagle, globe and anchor insignia), the U.S. markings, and the small set of numbers and CQBP denoting the official description of Close Quarters Battle Pistol. The inboard side of the handgun has a rather large COLT***USMC marking that struck me at the time of issue as gaudy and a blatant attempt by Colt to mark the government-contract pistols in such a way as to facilitate marketing the look-alike commercial version. Colt M45A1 USMC rollmark in the blue clam shellUltra rare version 01070M45, USMC Rollmark in Blue Box ( Not Pelican Box ) AboutPressCopyrightContact. In the first post, we field stripped the gun between shots to verify that it []. Normally his 1911 lectures are held during downtime at the range when he is repairing his 1911. This particular sample disproved decades worth of gun magazine lore about a combat-grade .45 needing to be loose for reliability and thus incompatible with custom-level accuracy. The Colt incorporates the dual recoil spring assembly of the firms recent commercial models, which seemed to dampen recoil somewhat. We have put a few rounds through the Decomm & it shoots and handles great. Comes with the original box, paperwork, and two magazines. The pistols with no front strap checkering are production line guns. Whether or not Colt had the time to honor the contract, is unknown: on September 30, 2016, the United States Marine Corps announced that all 1911 type pistols still used by its special operation units would be replaced by the Glock 19 and it seemingly included the new Colt M45A1 CQBP. Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. The Colt appeared to be unissued and had probably not been fired since leaving the factory. JavaScript is disabled. That is quite a service legacy for any military firearm. M45A1 - Colt custom shop vs Production version.which should I buy? Sweet! At any given time, one or two may show up on Gunbroker.com with prices that would only appeal to collectors. Hes only had one run away gun and a hand full of hammer follow situations Ive witnessed- normally they dont function well enough to get that worn (keep in mind this is over the course of decades, during which time he has owned scores of 1911 pistols). The front slide serrations are perfectly placed and have a noticeably deep depth and width, so much so that you can easily feel them while wearing gloves. The contract was said to be worth $22.5M to Colt. There is slight movement and a feel of roll through the break, but I wouldnt necessarily call it creep in a negative sense. It is big enough - yet snug enough to retain the M45A1 and other railed 5" 1911s. [9][11] Tritium Novak LoMount sights replaced the originals which were made in-house by the Marines.[9][11]. purchased pistol for combat use by its Special Operations units, including Force Recon. I found a Don Hume 715 MC IWB holster that it fit-good enough. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. Each time I handle the M45A1, though, I silently bemoan Colts decision to leave the frontstrap untextured, particularly in a .45 that is often fired while wearing gloves. [2], In the late 1980s, USMC Colonel Robert Young laid out a series of specifications and improvements to make Browning's design ready for 21st century combat, many of which have been included in MEU(SOC) pistol designs. Despite a host of refinements and enhancements, the new models method of operation and construction remain essentially unchanged from those of the John Browning-designed original. If one looks closely at the trigger guard, Colt has the V-shaped proofmark that was present on earlier government handguns, such as the 1909 USMC revolver. pistols to be offered on the civilian market since the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) stopped handgun sales over 50 years ago. This sample proved that sentiment. I overlooked the fact that it was a Colt and my awful past with Colt. From what I can remember, this included a barrel, bushing system, bar dot night sights, memory groove beavertail safety and Birdsong Black-T finish. That level of accuracy is truly noteworthy in a randomly selected, government-issue pistol. [15] The pistol was redesignated the M45A1 Close Quarter Battle Pistol (CQBP) and up to 12,000 will be delivered. As an avid Glock shooter, digging through my holster box to find one that fit was a chore. The gun ran well. 4. Colt Custom Shop M45A1 (NO USMC MARKINGS) "EGA" serial number. It will still feed from any type of 1911-compatible single stack magazine, as demonstrated by our test through the use of aftermarket MEC-GAR magazines. Dec 1, 2014 (Edited) It's kinda tricky, commercial sale frames were pulled right from the contract gun production line. Firearm Discussion and Resources from AR-15, AK-47, Handguns and more! GUNSweek.com is a new online platform dedicated to the diffusion of technical knowledge in the gun world. It is $50/year and gives you access supposedly to some good deals. The M45A1 CQBP pistol is issued with Wilson black metal single-stack magazines, holding 7+1 rounds. great shape, this is not the decom model either. The USMC is about double the price and if I understand correctly, its a production gun from Colt whereas the civilian version goes through the custom shop - is that correct? Fans of the 1911 expressed their disgust as nearly 4,000 of the handguns were de-commissioned. Brand new IonBond blue box can be had for less than $1500. However, the group all remarked that the pistols certainly seemed to be accurate using the government-issue hardball ammunition. These pistols are the first U.S.G.I. The improved M45A1 CQBP features several changes to the original M1911A1 design. Comes with the original box, paperwork, and two magazines. [13] This is the same pistol used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation SWAT and Hostage Rescue Teams; however, it had previously been rejected for adoption as the ICQB. My M45A1 has had hundreds of rounds put through it, both ball and JHP, and has not experienced any type of failure. Six months later, I was home on leave and my gun was back from Colt. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. And despite the price, the M45A1 CQB is definitely going to become a must-have for dedicated collectors and die-hard aficionados of John Moses Browning's quintessential workhorse on this side of the Big Pond. The Colt M45A1 CQBP semi-automatic pistol is the latest iteration of the .45 caliber 1911 pistol, as adopted in 2012 by the United States Marine Corps, The M45A1 was conceived for the USMC Special Operations Units. We ended the session shooting the old FBI pistol qualification course on a counter shaded QIT-99 (you can see the course of fire here). The one with the intact usmc is a custom is not the same gun as the the decoms. SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS AN EXACT SAME AS ISSUED USMC CQB PISTOL THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BEING THAT IT HAS THE EGA SERIAL NUMBER. NEW IN THE COLT ISSUED BLUE BOX EXACTLY AS WAS SHIPPED TO THE USMC. You will hear different stories, but the simplest is that the M45A1 was Colts first large-scale run of Cerakoted pistols. Even more so considering these guns were largely expected to be the last government-issue M1911s and, further, models specific to Marine Raiders and Force Reconnaissance. I have a DECOMM and an unfired NIB Pelican case Custom Shop USMC. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It must have been a special single shot model. It is hand fit, hand tooled and came with a snazzy green Pelican case and cleaning kit. An MEU(SOC) 1911 pistol, built by PWS at Quantico, Virginia. By clicking anywhere on the page, or scrolling down the content you can temporarily hide this banner. This is the so called blue box Colt pistol, model 01070M45. The pistols are exceptional purely as shooters, and scarce and significant for several military and historic reasons. Southeast Guns 2023. [8], A Marine operator may shoot as many as 80,000 rounds from this pistol during a training-cycle and subsequent deployment.